Navy Ship Steams For U.S. With 101st Equipment

Navy Ship Steams For U.S. With 101st Equipment

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - The first of a number of cargo ships transporting 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) equipment back to the United States left port this morning.

Loading the division's equipment onto the U.S.N.S. Benavidez took approximately three days. Cargo from the 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) includes a variety of helicopters, as well as ground equipment such as High Mobility Multi-Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs) and Light Medium Tactical Vehicles (LMTVs). All helicopters were shrink wrapped with plastic to protect them from the ocean environment over the course of the voyage.

Most of the equipment belongs to the 159th Aviation Brigade, which redeployed from Iraq to Kuwait earlier this month. Before being loaded onto the ship, all equipment was extensively cleaned, then inspected and certified by U.S. customs. After inspection, equipment was stored in secure "sterile yards" to prevent it from getting dirty or being tampered with.

The ship also underwent a day of maintenance while in port.

Release #040124i

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - The first of a number of cargo ships transporting 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) equipment back to the United States left port this morning.

Loading the division's equipment onto the U.S.N.S. Benavidez took approximately three days. Cargo from the 101st Abn. Div. (AASLT) includes a variety of helicopters, as well as ground equipment..

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Godspeed, Sailors ~ 101st Airborne Division, mission accomplished, ping!
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(Jan. 07, 2004) -- Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off Ship USNS Benavidez (T-AKR 306) heads out of Souda harbor following a brief port visit. Benavidez is carrying more than 230,000 square feet of U.S. Army combat equipment and supplies, belonging to the Ft. Hood, Texas based 1st Cavalry Division currently deploying for service in Iraq.

The ship sailed from the U.S. and will off-load in Kuwait. The move is part of a standard rotation of forces and their equipment in and out of Iraq.

The 950-foot vessel is named for Medal of Honor recipient Army Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez.

USNS Benavidez is one of Military Sealift Command's nineteen Large, Medium-Speed Roll-on/Roll-off Ships and is part of the 28 ships in the Sealift Program Office. U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley. (RELEASED)

Medal of Honor recipient Army Master Sergeant Roy P. Benavidez

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